HIV-associated oral lesions: prevalence in Zambia.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the prevalence of HIV-associated oral lesions in known HIV+ subjects in Zambia and assess the predictive value of these lesions to identify individuals with CD4 cell counts less than 200 x 10(6) L-1.


METHODS
St Francis Hospital, situated in the rural Katete District, Eastern Province, Zambia.


METHODS
107 newly diagnosed heterosexual HIV positive individuals included 42% males and 58% females (mean age 34.5, range 16-62).


METHODS
Following a medical history and detailed oral examination, blood and whole saliva were collected in each subject.


RESULTS
A total of 47.7% from this sample had an AIDS diagnosis. The mean CD4 count was 252.2 cells mm-3 (s.d. +/- 160.5, range 44-810); 40.2% of the study group demonstrated oral lesions associated with HIV seropositivity. Candidiasis was most commonly seen (25% prevalence). In this population erythematous candidiasis was the only oral lesion significantly associated with CD4 counts of less than 200 x 10(6) L-1 (P < 0.05, Two-tailed Fisher's Exact Test).


CONCLUSIONS
In resource poor countries a thorough oral examination may suggest HIV infection and predict disease progression. Health care professional education regarding the orofacial manifestations of HIV infection needs urgent reinforcement in these areas.
Hodgson
T A
TA
Department of Oral Medicine and Pathology, UMDS Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015024:Zambia / Q000453:epidemiology